Vehicle-wheel.



J. A. RHONE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 001.19, 1914.

Pal-tented Aug. 31, 1915.

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J. A. RHONE.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19. I914.

1, 15 9329. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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VEHIGLTELWHEEL.

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specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Bctober 18, 1914. Serial No. 867,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, dorm A. Rnonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saratoga, in. the county of-Carbon and State f Wyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-lVheels of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels the broad object of the invention being to produc a strong, reliable and efficient resilient wheel embodying a novel construction and arrangement of hub cushioning means whereby the hub which has a floating relation to the main body of the wheel is cushioned in all directions relatively to and within the vertical plane of the wheel as a whole.

By means of the invention hereinafter de scribed, the pneumatic tire now in common use and any troubles incident to the use thereof are done away with, the road shocks and vibrations being absorbed by and within the wheel itself irrespective of the tire.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illus-n'ated and claimed.

in the accompanying drawingsz l igure 1 is a 1 elevation of a wheel embodying the PK it invention. Fig. 2 1s a radial gh the same. Fig. is an rical section through the Fig. 4 18 a cross sect enlarged center of the wheel structure.

side elem. on oi. the central wheel omitting the adjacent guard plate. Fig. is an inside taco view of the grooved housing plate. Fig. (i is a view similar to Fig. 4 omitting the adjacent plates and, keys and showing the core and shoes. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the plungers, the plunger head and rocker shoe.

Referring; to the drawings 1 designates the telly and 2 the tire of a vehicle wheel, both of which may be of any usual or pro terred construction.

In carrying out the present invention I employ a pair 01". housing plates 3 to which are connected the inner ends of a circular series of tubular spokes 4t each of which bears a fixed relationto the folly Li and the housing plates 3, the said spokes serving also as means for rigidly connecting the housing plates 3 which latter are arranged in spaced relation to each other to intervening space or chamber in winch the against the outer periphery oi the .insures the proper radial guiding part of the "in an floating hub is movable in all directions 'ilh the vertical plane of the wheel. Each spoke is bifurcated at its inner end or provided with laterally spaced ears 5 which are fas tened to the housing plates 3 as shown.

6 designates the wheel hub which carries a cylindrical core 7 preferabiy formed with a non-circular central opening to it upon an enlargement 8 of corresponding shape centrally of the hub 6 so that said core is pre vented from rotating on the hub. The core 7 is mounted to move in all directions in the vertical plane of the wheel and between the housing plates 3 and both of said housing plates are'provided in their inner faces with radially extending grooves 9 to receive tongues or ribs 10 on the plunger heads 11 at the inner ends of a circular series of plungers 12, one of said plungers being used in connection with each spoke iwithin which it is slidable longitudinally. Each plunger head 11 embodies a cylindrical bearing portion 13 which is received in a recess 14: of corresponding shape in a rockingcon nection between each shoe and piun gcr head so as to enable the inner concaved taco 16 of the shoe to bear thrmnghout entire area and under al positions or said shoe core 7.

The tongue and groove connection between each lun 'cr head and the housiiw white 3 of the plunger rod. Disposed around each oi? the 12 1s a spiral cushioning spine i' sion oi which is adjustable by means of a tension screw 26 and a :t'orrale it? which its over he outer extremity of the resp: plunger rod. 12, the screw acti against the ferrule 18 and the latter scrvi 1 press or relieve the spring 11 The head oi? the tension screw 20 is or anged in a re- 21 in. the folly '72. The screws 20 are adjusted primarily before applying; the and its rim to the wheel, the adjustment of the springs being in accordance with the lead to be imposed on tl wheel.

The means for producin nection between the hub of the wheel wiil now o hub is provided at opposih largernent 8 with otler non-on ni-cnts 232- and as sq are inv cross a of one onlarggein it \1, with respect to the corthe other enlargement. Slidably mounted on the enlargements 22 and 23 are universal movement keys 24 and 25, a plurality of such keys being used in connection with each of the non-circular enlargements 22 and 23. In connection with each'set of keys 24 and 25, I employ a driving plate 26 which is formed with a central non-circular opening 27 shown as square in shape and of such dimensions as to receive both of the keys 24 and 25 and permit the same to slide in a direction at ri ht angles to each other. Each key is shown in the form of an open. center rectangle the internal transverse dimension of which is slightly greater than the outside dimensions of the respective enlargement 22 or 23 so that each key may slide in the direction of its length on such enlargement while sliding in the direction of its width within the opening 27 ot' the adjacent driving plate. By arranging two sets of keys and driving the plates at opposite sides of the wheel and arranging the flat faces of one of the enlargements at an angle or obliquely with respect to the flat faces of the other enlargement, an easy working universal keyed connection is established between the floating hub and the main bod of the wheel which adapts said hub to yield in all directions in the vertical plane of the wheel under the action of the cushioning means. The keys and are provided with guide stems 25 and 24: working in guide ways in the driving plates as shown in Fig. a. At opposite sides of the hub are guard plates 28 which it snugly but slidingly against the driving plates and are formed with central openings 29 for the hub, said plates being held in position by means of nuts 30 or their equivalent. The

driving plates cover the inner ends or cars 5 of the tubular spokes 4 and are fastened thereto as indicated at 31, adding to the solidity and strength of the main body of the wheel. The guard plates 28 move with the floating hub and slide against the adjacent plates secured to the main booy of the wheel and effectively exclude foreign matter. The universal movement keys While admitting of the full cushioning action of the springs, establish a driving connection between the hub and main body of the wheel adapting the wheel to be used either as a driving or steering wheel. The Wheel as a whole may be used upon all kindsof vehicles such as automobiles, motor trucks, wagons, buggies and the like, saving wear and tear on the vehicle and its motor and doing away with the troublesome pneumatic tires now in common use.

What I claim is A vehicle wheel embodying a felly, hub housing plates in spaced relation to each other, and tubular spokes having a fixed relation to said felly and housing plates, in combination with a floating hub movable between said housing plates in any direction in the vertical plane of the wheel, hub supporting and cushioning, means in said spokes, and shoes interposed between said hub and cushioning means, and having a tongue and groove sliding arrangement with both of said housing plates.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. RnoN Witnesses DAVID S. RICHMOND, FLOYD H. LEMON. 

